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Summarised by Centrist
China has imposed strict quarantine measures on thousands of chikungunya virus cases in Foshan, sparking fears of a repeat of the zero-COVID approach with its mass surveillance and heavy enforcement.
At the same time, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced it was canceling USD$500 million (NZD$840 million) in contracts for mRNA vaccine development targeting respiratory viruses including COVID and flu.
Chinese authorities launched a “patriotic public health campaign” using drones, mosquito-eating fish, and even power cuts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, while residents reported harsh police tactics.
Yanzhong Huang, a global health expert, warned this response “raises the spectre of the zero-COVID strategy, with its zero-tolerance approach, mass mobilisation, surveillance and testing.”
Meanwhile, in a sort of contrast, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, “We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,” explaining that these vaccines “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections” and that funding would shift “toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.” Kennedy added,
“HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them,” signalling a pivot in America’s vaccine strategy after years of heavy mRNA reliance.
Read more over at The Independent UK and The Blaze
Image: A2-33
